Animation– The creation of a series of visual images with effects and movement.

Banner – A web image, frequently an advertisement, placed on a web page. Banners may be rich media, static or animated.

Bevel – An added effect utilizing highlights and shadows to the inner and outer edges of a web design graphic.

Bitmap graphic – A visual comprised of a collective pattern of dots (bits), which are stored as data in the computer.

Bitmap Image– Web graphics, also referred to as “raster” graphics; include GIF, JPEG, TIFF, PNG, etc. The specific colors of dots, or pixels that compose the image are defined.

Compression – The process by which data is made compact in order to save storage space on a computer. Compressing files will speed up the time it takes to transfer a set of files.

CMS—Abbreviation for Content Management System.  A platform which provides a variety of procedures to manage website content enabling collaborative contribution, easy access, editing and data storage as well as improved communication in cooperative creative environment. Examples of CMS platforms include WordPress, Ruby on Rails, Posterous and Tumblr.

CSS – stands for Cascading Style Sheet. In web design, it serves as the basic sheet to create the visual style for the appearance of text on a website. CSS serves as an automatic consolidation page for storing html data related to font colors, paragraphs and layouts, etc.

DHTML – An abbreviation for Dynamic Hypertext Mark-up Language.

An advanced form of html that enables a web page to display content based on a user’s browser and/or computer. For instance, the web page is able to alter appearance for users using Mozilla browsers, Google Chrome, Safari and so forth.

Directory –A web directory based on user-input. Directories are usually created by an individual versus a computer, and they are often categorized as well.  Not to be confused with a search engine, a web directory does not incorporate site crawlers (robots/spiders).

DNS – An abbreviation for Domain Name System.  The DNS transforms web addresses from the URL form into numbers.

Drop Shadow – A graphic and web design effect that adds depth to images.

ECommerce – stands for Electronic Commerce.  It refers to the buying and selling of products or services online.

Feathering – A graphic and web design effect that blurs the edges of an image.

Findability/Searchability/Visibilty – A branding and online marketing term that refers to the likelihood of a web site to be found on search engine results pages (SERPs). Better or advanced design of a given website will add to findability.

Flash – A tool that enables website animation.

Footer – The text and/or graphic images that appear at the bottom of a web page.

Frame – In web design animation, this term refers to an individual image within a series of images.

Frames – An HTML term referring to the elements that enable the breakdown of a web page into smaller scrollable area. Preferably, a skilled web designer will include NOFRAMES-tags with links, therefore contributing to the likelihood of being found on SERPs.

FTP – An abbreviation for File Transfer Protocol. FTP enables html documents, images and other files to be copied and/or sent from user to user, computer to computer.

Glow – In graphic and web design, a glow is a technique with a “highlight” effect on an image. A glow can be low or high radiance.

Gradient – In graphic and web design, a gradient is a slow transition of colors, utilized on websites for the visual effect.

Graphic Backgrounds – A bottom layer of a web page. In web design, the visual appearance will most likely highlight and be consistent with the layer above.

Go-live – The specific point when a website or application is published, made public (or “live”) on the Internet.

Header – The text and/or graphic images that appear on top of a web page

Homepage—The main page of a website that comprised of essential site information, important internal links within the site, and graphics related to the company or business, etc.

HTML –stands for Hypertext Markup Language. HTML is a formatting system for web page creation and web design.

Image Map — HMTL-generated links that enable an image to be clickable to a web page

Information Page — In web design and SEO, an information page is designed, written and coded to attract a specific target audience.

Intranet –A computer network that is managed and maintained internally (privately). Intranets enable access to an exclusive group of authorized personnel.

Java — In web design and web development, Java is a programming language that enables applications to be downloaded in the user/site visitor’s computer for use/playback purposes.

Landing Page – After clicking a link, this is the single web page that a visitor arrives at. Also referred to as a “lead capture page.”

Masthead — A visual at the top of a web page that serves to inform site visitors which page they’re on.

Navigation – The process of moving from one web page to another page within that website, or to a different website by clicking on a hyperlink

• Main navigation: The navigation located above the fold or on the left side column of a web page. This is a collection of main links within a website and forms the website navigation menu or the website navigation bar.
• Super navigation is the menu that runs across the top of the web page and usually includes a link to the main homepage, contact/feedback form, blog, product page and the likes.
• Sub navigation (sub-menu) is a secondary menu that appears when a user holds the cursor over a category on the site’s main menu (main navigation bar).

 Mobile Application – A software program developed for mobile devices, such as cell phones, tablet PC’s and the likes. Also referred to “mobile app.”

Mobile Website –A website developed for access and navigation on a mobile device such as a cell phone or tablet PC.

Netiquette — In brand reputation management, this refers to online behavior and the etiquette that is generally accepted as proper.

Payment Gateway – An eCommerce and web design term that enables secure credit card funds to be transferred into the merchant’s account at checkout.

SSL Certificate – A digital certificate ensuring authenticity, security and encryption of user information. SSL certificates are used with the most widely accepted security protocol when making purchases on the Internet.

Subpage—A secondary web page within a website.

Web Fonts—A typeface usually designed for screen use, and developed/installed with a web browser. Both designers and authors use web fonts when generating content for websites.